Superstar in Training

Ch. 5

Superstar in Training- Ch.5

For the next two and a half hours, James and I stared at the stars and talked. We talked about everything.

We talked about how I'll have to go house, or 'flat', shopping. About how his recording was coming along and how close he was with finishing. How I only had four songs, nowhere near completion. It felt so natural, just lying there with him and talking.

"I had fun tonight, thank you." I tell James as I reach into my pocket for my room key. I pull it out and insert it into the door.

"No problem. It was great just being with you." James replies as I open the door to the hotel room, all of the lights off and no one else inside. My mom still wasn't back yet.

"I'll see you tomorrow hopefully? A realtor is taking me, my mom, and Alex to look at a few places, you can come if you'd like?" I ask, hoping he agrees. James leans against the door way and smirks.

"That'd be nice," He replies, "but I really got to go, talk to you later?"

"Of course." I say laughing pushing him out into the hallway.

I slip my vans off my feet slowly and place them by the door. Before I have time to do anything else, there's a knock at the door.

"Yes?" The handsome sight of James once again greets me. He grins as he leans on the doorway again.

"I forgot something." James replies and I look at him confusedly.

"What did you-" Before I can finish my sentence, James' lips are on mine, only for two seconds before he pulls away with a sheepish smile. I simply grin back at him, my smile uncontrollable.

But when he starts to lean in again, I push him away lightly. "Go! I want you to get home at a reasonable hour! Plus my mom will be back any minute..."

"Oh come on Gabs just-" Before he can finish his sentence; a hand grips his shoulder, pulling him away. Alex.

James' cheeks flush and Alex slowly says, "I think she meant leave." James looks up at Alex again, and Alex smiles at the boy before gently shoving him away from my door.

"See you tomorrow James!" I call after him as he waves at us, still blushing. He rushes into an elevator as soon as Alex turns to me.

"Oh my gosh girl! Tell me everything!" My 23-year-old male bodyguard squeals, and its moments like these where I forget he's there to protect and believe he's nothing but an adopted older brother.

***

"Mom, I don't want to sit in a room with Mrs. Abby and Uncle Simon alone." I complain as she parks the car in front of the studio. 10:01. Looks like James' habits are rubbing off on me.

"Sweetie, if I had to do it yesterday, than so do you." My mom unlocks the door but I refuse to budge. "If you plan on living here alone, you need to handle doing things like this alone." My mom comments, and that sends me straight out of the car and into the studio doors before I can remember why I'm here.

"Gabby Knight." I tell the mean saggy old lady seated at the desk. She looks me up and down, and then nods. She motions for me to follow her. As we silently walk down the halls, I stare at the numerous posters hanging on the wall. But the same poster always catches my eyes. One Direction. Simon's pride and joy.

"Do you know what you did this time?" The old saggy woman rudely remarks, and before I can tell her off, we arrive at Meeting Room 1 door. I push the heavy black door open.

Within seconds, Mrs. Abby is on my case. "Gabby darling, what in the world are you wearing?" I instinctively pull on the gray 'OBEY' sweater. "Oh my, that is so bad for your image! Ugh, why do you make this so hard on us? First the 'attacking a fan', and now this, all in one week!" Mrs. Abby pulls a pen from her ear and scribbles notes into her notepad; Simon just sits at the opposite end of the table, letting his annoyance at Mrs. Abby grow.

"Hi Uncle Simon." I shyly wave as he smiles at me, no matter how close we are, he will still always intimidate me. Simon Cowell just has that air.

"Hello," He nods to the seat across the table with a steaming cup of tea. I take my seat and timidly take a sip.

"Alright, first on the list-"

"Abigail, just shut up." Simon politely interrupts her, rubbing his temples. "My headache is worse as is.

"And anyway, I called this meeting to order, not you. First on the list is this whole 'Gabby Knight' image I keep hearing about." I love Simon, especially because when he wants something, he gets it. "I'm sick of it, what you and your team are trying to make Ms. Knight into, it isn't the Gabby Knight that those girls somehow became obsessed with on that stage." Mrs. Abby stares at him mortified, but all he does is take a sip of his steaming tea. The steam clouds his thin-framed glasses, and he pulls them off his face to slowly wipe.

"Oh but Mr. Cowell, Gabby Knight is on the track to be being the music businesses next sweetheart-" Simon and I share the look, and he raises a hand to silence her. Like a puppy dog, she slowly quiets herself.

"I don't ever, and I mean ever, want to hear the words 'Gabby Knight' and 'sweetheart' in the same sentence." Simon looks over to me again, and lets a grin spread across his face. "Now Mrs. Abigail, I am going to make things very clear to you, right here and right now." He takes another slow sip of his tea. I realize I haven't even touched my cup.

"You are not handle any of Ms. Knight's public affairs, for example, I no longer condone you posting on her social media accounts. You, and your team of blind followers, are to only schedule appearances for Ms. Knight, and ensure her safety and punctuality to these appearances. That is all."

In my head, I'm chanting 'Go Simon, go! Show her who's boss!' But in reality, I just stare at the encounter indifferently.

"Oh, but don't think you're getting off so easily Gabriella," there it is, my full name, I told you it's only followed by trouble, "I don't want anymore of these ridiculous shenanigans! Attacking a fan, I'm telling you right here, right now young lady, you better be damn glad one of those fans of yours videoed the whole incident and made it go viral."

I nod, keeping my head low. I don't enjoy being singled out like this.

"Now I assume you've made the decision on relocating." He nods towards me, telling me to continue.

"Yes, and sir, with my mother's blessing, I've decided to move to London, alone." I say timidly, not daring to look Simon in the eyes.

His soft tone is surprisingly soothing. "Why yes, of course you did." Silence drags on for a solid ten seconds before a noise from the hallway drifts through the door.

"...where we are..." Are the only distinct words I can hear from the British accent. Simon sighs, and smiling shakes his head.

"I told them to stay quiet." I'm still lost as I look around in confusion. I feel like I'm putting together a puzzle, but missing a piece.

"Ms. Knight," Simon starts slowly, "in order to keep your actions under... control, I have decided to implement a set of, babysitters, per say. You will be with them every possible second you can, and hopefully the lot of them can act as your mentors." I stare, with my mouth wide-open as I digest the words he just spoke. Babysitters? What, am I some sort of wild three year old?

"Bring them in," Simon calls, and the heavy metal doors open to reveal quite the sight.

On the other side stands five grinning boys, standing straight and tall. They all rush into the room, grabbing chairs by the sleek glass table. They stare at me expectantly, as Simon weighs my shocked expression.

"Gabriella Knight, meet your new 'babysitters'." Simon then takes a good look at the boys' shocked expression and continues, "One Direction, meet your new opening act for Where We Are tour, 2014."